Cal_Vin got the memo..

LOOKING at hip hop artist Cal_Vin in a grey suit, crisp white shirt and tie was such a breath of fresh air!

Even in his performance attire – a white and tan combo – the guy still looked breathtakingly dashing.

I’m glad he got the memo after his wardrobe disaster at the National Arts Merit Awards.

Attending the Zimbabwe Music Awards, Cal_Vin undoubtedly looked like the hip hop star that he is.

He got rid of the sweat pants and bandana look, which did absolutely nothing for his image.

If anything – it made him look like an adventurous hiker straight from one of his expeditions!

It’s amazing what good clothes worn well can do for a person. In his suit, Cal_Vin looked like a refined and well groomed gentleman.

Who knew the guy is such a pretty boy!

I don’t know who he consulted or if he did but the change definitely worked.

All you need now is consistency Cal_Vin – you’ve set the bar high and we’ve seen what you’re capable of, keep the momentum going.

You just never know who is watching. You might even get yourself a corporate gig or endorsement deal primarily because of your appealing image.

In retrospect, I look at Cal_Vin’s outfit and there really wasn’t anything complicated about it.

It was quite basic – grey and white – but sophisticated in its simplicity.

I strongly believe it was because of the white shirt that he pulled off the look.

A lot of people don’t realise this but a plain white shirt can change the game for you instantly.

White is such a beautiful colour – it’s clean, fresh and elegant.

Anybody looks good in a white shirt, well, as long as it’s clean of course.

I see a lot of guys who try to go fancy and take the plunge by wearing red, blue or grey shirts but they in fact complicate life for themselves.

These colours require much more attention when putting the whole outfit together.

Take Jah Prayzah and his Zima look for example. The six button black jacket was an excellent idea. It was brilliant of him to choose the jacket – they’ve become quite trendy nowadays.

He wore it with a black pair of pants and black shoes. Jah Prayzah accessorised well with a sleek gold watch and a couple of rings.

But because of his red shirt and black tie – the guy didn’t look polished and well put together.

Something about the shirt and tie didn’t work well at all.

I’d have replaced the red shirt and black tie with a white one and have no tie.

I’d complement the jacket with a fancy pocket square to add some flare to it. It was good that Jah Prayzah finally got out of his military regalia but I wished he hadn’t worn that red shirt!

White says sophistication – it adds a touch of class to any outfit.

Anyone who decides to wear a blazer and asks what shirt to wear it with – I always recommend a white one.

Anything works over a white shirt, whatever the tone of your skin.

You may feel white is overdone but believe me – it’ll save you a whole lot of mishap.

The sentiment is unisex. Your white shirt or blouse will go with whatever you want it to. It could be a pair of formal pants, dark or light wash denim jeans, African print, java – practically anything!

I’ve noticed some men prefer black shirts over white ones to evening events.

That works pretty well if you’re Leroy Gopal or DJ Napstar fashion savvy.

A black shirt will require a bold and elaborate blazer so that you don’t look too dull.

You’ll need some accessories like a pocket square or bow tie with a young chain to add some detail to the whole ensemble.

You’ll also need to be one bold man to pull it off – black draws more attention to the pieces accompanying the shirt than the shirt itself.